Multiple dispersion generator e-vaping device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12178256-B2
Application number	US-201916445775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Mar 11, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A base for an e-vaping device is configured to couple with multiple cartridges configured to generate separate, respective dispersions. The cartridges may include one or more atomizer assemblies or vaporizer assemblies. The base may include multiple connectors electrically coupled to the power supply. The connectors may be configured to couple multiple dispersion generators to a power supply of the base. The base may include control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by dispersion generators coupled to the base. The control circuitry may independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on cartridge information accessed through at least one of the first and second connectors. The control circuitry may control dispersion generation by controlling power supplied to the dispersion generators.

First claim

We claim:

1. A base, comprising:
a power supply configured to supply electrical power;
first and second connectors configured to independently and removably electrically couple separate, respective first and second cartridges to the power supply; and
control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, the independently controlling including
establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector and establishing a second communication link with a second storage device in the second cartridge via the second connector,
accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link and accessing cartridge information associated with the second cartridge from the second storage device via the second communication link, and
independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge based on both accessed cartridge information associated with the first cartridge and the accessed cartridge information associated with the second cartridge.

2. The base of claim 1 , wherein
cartridge information associated with a cartridge of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first cartridge and the second cartridge includes,
information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the cartridge,
information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion generator included in the cartridge,
information associated with a formulation held in the cartridge,
a particular activation sequence associated with the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, or
any combination thereof.

3. The base of claim 1 , wherein
the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector.

4. The base of claim 3 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times.

5. The base of claim 3 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.

6. The base of claim 1 , wherein
the first connector is configured to couple with a connector of the first cartridge and is configured to be restricted from coupling with a connector of the second cartridge, and
the second connector is configured to couple with the connector of the second cartridge and is configured to be restricted from coupling with the connector of the first cartridge.

7. The base of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover configured to establish a removable enclosure of the first and second connectors.

8. The base of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cartridge holder defining a first slot and a second slot;
the first connector in the first slot;
the second connector in the second slot;
the first cartridge configured to be removably coupled to the first slot; and
the second cartridge configured to be removably coupled to the first slot.

9. An e-vaping device, comprising:
a power supply configured to supply electrical power;
first and second cartridges independently and removably electrically coupled to the power supply; and
control circuitry configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges, the independently controlling including
establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via a first connector and establishing a second communication link with a second storage device in the second cartridge via a second connector,
accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link and accessing cartridge information associated with the second cartridge from the second storage device via the second communication link, and

independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge based on both the accessed cartridge information associated with the first cartridge and the accessed cartridge information associated with the second cartridge.

10. The e-vaping device of claim 9 , wherein
cartridge information associated with a cartridge of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first cartridge and the second cartridge includes
information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the cartridge,
information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion generator included in the cartridge,
information associated with a formulation held in the cartridge,
a particular activation sequence associated with the dispersion generator included in the cartridge, or
any combination thereof.

11. The e-vaping device of claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control dispersion generation by the first and second cartridges based on independent control of electrical power supplied from the power supply to the first cartridge via the first connector and to the second cartridge via the second connector.

12. The e-vaping device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges at different times.

13. The e-vaping device of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently control the electrical power supplied to the first and second connectors, such that electrical power is supplied to the first and second cartridges in an alternating pattern in response to successive vaping command signals.

14. The e-vaping device of claim 9 , wherein the power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

15. A method, comprising:
independently controlling dispersion generation by first and second cartridges electrically coupled to a power supply of a base via first and second connectors, the independently controlling including,
establishing a first communication link with a first storage device in the first cartridge via the first connector and establishing a second communication link with a second storage device in the second cartridge via the second connector;
accessing cartridge information associated with the first cartridge from the first storage device via the first communication link and accessing cartridge information associated with the second cartridge from the second storage device via the second communication link; and
independently controlling electrical power supplied to the first cartridge based on both the accessed cartridge information associated with the first cartridge and the accessed cartridge information associated with the second cartridge.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein cartridge information associated with a cartridge of the first cartridge, the second cartridge, or the first cartridge and the second cartridge includes
information uniquely identifying one or more elements of a dispersion generator included in the cartridge,
information indicating a dispersion generator “type” of the dispersion gener

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Rostami Ali A
• Kobal Gerd
• Pithawalla Yezdi
• Kane David
• Tucker Christopher S
• Lipowicz Peter
• Flora Jason
• Karles Georgios
• Mishra Munmaya K
• Barnes Catherine
• Arena Richard

Classifications

• H02J7/875

  Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation · CPC title

• H04L65/1069

  Session establishment or de-establishment · CPC title

• A24F40/40

  Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts · CPC title

• A24F40/30

  Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges · CPC title

• A24F40/10

  Devices using liquid inhalable precursors · CPC title